Search Results for: employment

Beyond the jargon: what insurance benefits really mean to your team

Beyond the jargon: what insurance benefits really mean to your team

Here’s a jargon-free guide to the different insurance benefits you can offer your employees, and the real-life impact they have on your team.Offering a comprehensive employee benefits package is more important than ever, and  Drewberry’s 2024 Employee Benefits And Workplace Satisfaction Survey found that a fifth of employees want insurance to protect their loved ones. But with so many products out there, and terms like “Group Income Protection” and “Critical Illness Cover” making many people’s eyes glaze over, it can be hard to determine the right product for your people – and what they really offer. More →

Navigating misconduct in the workplace: a lawyer’s perspective

Navigating misconduct in the workplace: a lawyer’s perspective

Recently, Lloyd’s of London has been in the news because it has proposed significant steps to address the notorious levels of misconduct in its sectorLloyd’s of London has been in the news because it has proposed significant steps to address the notorious levels of misconduct in its sector, as well as tackling bad behaviour across its network. With the Worker Protection Act coming into force on the 26 October 2024, which stipulates new proactive duties on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, precautions taken by Lloyds may have been triggered by the new duties from this Act – but have opened the floor to several questions, including how do we measure misconduct in third party situations generally? And what falls in this remit? More →

Employers need to be proactive to address problem of sexual harassment at work

Employers need to be proactive to address problem of sexual harassment at work

In today's evolving workplace landscape, the issue of sexual harassment at work and the work-related environment remains a pressing concernIn today’s evolving workplace landscape, the issue of sexual harassment at work and the work-related environment remains a pressing concern for employers and employees alike. Recent surveys have shed light on the pervasive nature of this problem, revealing that a significant portion of workers continue to experience sexual harassment at work not only from colleagues, but also from third parties such as suppliers, customers and patients. As new legislation approaches, it’s imperative for employers to take reasonable anticipatory steps to prevent sexual harassment at workplace to improve workplace culture, the organisation from expensive and damaging claims and its workforce from such abhorrent conduct. More →

Over 57 and looking for work? Forget it, say HR managers

Over 57 and looking for work? Forget it, say HR managers

Millions of people aged 57 and over in the UK are being overlooked when looking for work, as employers consider this age too oldMillions of workers aged 57 and over in the UK are being overlooked for job opportunities, as employers increasingly consider this age ‘too old’ to hire, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by Totaljobs, claims that a third of people over 50 worry they will struggle to find work due to age discrimination, with one in seven reporting being rejected for jobs because of their age. The study suggests that two-fifths of HR decision-makers have faced pressure to hire younger candidates, placing older workers at a disadvantage when looking for work. In response, more than a fifth of over-50s have chosen to omit their age from their CVs, while a quarter hesitate to apply for roles, fearing potential bias. More →

Majority of small business bosses support potential right to disconnect law

Majority of small business bosses support potential right to disconnect law

A new poll claims that the vast majority (85 percent) of British SME bosses with HR responsibilities support proposals to give staff the “right to disconnect”A new poll claims that the vast majority (85 percent) of British SME bosses with HR responsibilities support proposals to give staff the “right to disconnect”, with 4 in 5 (80 percent) believing the Employment Rights Bill is a positive step forward for employees. The survey was conducted by Breathe HR to uncover sentiment towards new workers’ rights amongst bosses who will be steering through new rule changes at SMEs, ahead of the Employment Rights Bill being laid in parliament. This is expected to take place in the coming weeks, although the implementation of rule changes in practice may be delayed following pressure from certain business leaders. More →

Menopause is a workplace issue. Here’s why

Menopause is a workplace issue. Here’s why

 

Menopause is one of those things that until a few years ago, most of the population hadn’t heard of. Even if they had, it certainly wasn’t a workplace issue. Which is interesting as half the population will have one in some form. More specifically more than one in every ten people in our workforce is currently menopausal. More →

UK see largest contraction in Labour Force since the 1980s

UK see largest contraction in Labour Force since the 1980s

The final report from the two-year Commission on the Future of Employment Support claims that the UK needs ‘once-in-a-generation reform’ to boost growth and improve living standards in the face of a huge contraction in the country’s labour force. The report suggests that the UK is one of the few developed nations where employment has fallen post-pandemic. The UK has dropped from having the eighth-highest employment rate globally to fifteenth. Had the original position been maintained, the economy would be £25 billion larger annually, with public finances £16 billion better off. More →

Arts and crafts boost personal wellbeing more than work, study finds

Arts and crafts boost personal wellbeing more than work, study finds

A new study suggests that engaging in arts and crafts activities can significantly enhance personal wellbeing, offering greater benefits than traditional employmenA new study suggests that engaging in arts and crafts activities can significantly enhance personal wellbeing, offering greater benefits than traditional employment. The research, conducted by a team from Anglia Ruskin University and published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, found that activities like pottery, painting, knitting, and woodworking can increase life satisfaction, happiness, and the sense that life is worthwhile. These findings suggest that arts and crafts, often seen as mere hobbies, could be a powerful tool for improving mental health and wellbeing on a broad scale. More →

Vast majority people on zero hours contracts don’t want to be on zero hours contracts

Vast majority people on zero hours contracts don’t want to be on zero hours contracts

A new poll makes the perhaps obvious point that a significant majority of workers on zero-hours contracts prefer stable, regular working hours.A new poll makes the perhaps obvious point that a significant majority of workers on zero-hours contracts prefer stable, regular working hours. Commissioned by the TUC, the survey found that 84 percent of zero-hours contract workers would prefer consistent work schedules, while only 14 percent are content with their current arrangements. The poll also highlighted the financial difficulties faced by these workers due to underemployment. Seventy-five percent reported not receiving enough hours to cover their living expenses. Despite this, more than half (58 percent) of requests for additional hours were turned down by employers. More →

How younger generations are redefining workplace exits

How younger generations are redefining workplace exits

 

The modern workplace is witnessing a significant shift in the dynamics of workplace exits, largely driven by younger generationsThe modern workplace is witnessing a significant shift in the dynamics of workplace exits, largely driven by younger generations—especially those born after 1997, known as Gen Z. It’s not just in the places we might expect. For example, in Japan, a country with a reputation for long tenures and employee/employer loyalty, resignation agencies such as Momuri offer services that allow individuals to quit their jobs remotely. Even where moving jobs is relatively rare, this “resignation-as-a-service” has sprung up as a result of discontent within the workforce. This phenomenon, particularly pronounced among younger demographics, is challenging traditional notions of loyalty in the face of workplace dissatisfaction. More →

Workers unsure about the government’s New Deal for Working People

Workers unsure about the government’s New Deal for Working People

 

Workers in the UK are lukewarm towards the "New Deal for Working People," a cornerstone of the recently introduced Employment Rights Bill.Workers in the UK are lukewarm towards the “New Deal for Working People,” a cornerstone of the recently introduced Employment Rights Bill. This ambivalence is coupled with a significant lack of awareness about their current workplace rights and their employers’ stance on various aspects of the deal. These insights come from the latest Robert Half Jobs Confidence Index (JCI), an economic confidence tracker developed in collaboration with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). More →

Working from home prevalent across Northern Europe, but has no effect on productivity

Working from home prevalent across Northern Europe, but has no effect on productivity

 

Working from home has become a permanent feature of the European workforce, with notable variations across different regions and citiesA new research briefing from Oxford Economics claims to highlight the sustained prevalence of working from home in Europe, particularly in northern cities, and examines its impact on office real estate markets. According to the briefing, which analyses data through 2023, working from home has become a permanent feature of the European workforce, with notable variations across different regions and cities. More →